Heligoland ferry timetable
Helgoline connects Cuxhaven with Heligoland by catamaran in 70 minutes. From Hamburg, the crossing with FRS Helgoline takes around 3.5 hours. The catamarans run from late March to early November, the excursion ship from Cuxhaven all year round.
Which departure port suits you?
You can travel to Heligoland from three ports, and the choice affects your day's schedule more than the price. Cuxhaven has the most departures and the shortest crossing: it is the only port with a ship in winter too, and in season a day trip with several hours on the island is possible every day. If you're travelling from northern Germany, this is the quickest way onto the water. More on check-in, ships and crossing times on this route is on the Cuxhaven - Helgoland ferry page.
Hamburg saves you the trip out to the coast: the catamaran departs from the St. Pauli Landungsbrücken and calls at Cuxhaven along the way. In exchange, you'll spend considerably longer travelling, and the day is more tightly scheduled, since the return sailing is in the afternoon. Even so, for a trip without your own car, this is often the simplest option.
Brunsbüttel is the smallest of the three: sailings run on only a few days a week, but it's a short trip for anyone starting out from the Lower Elbe or Dithmarschen. If you want to depart from here, check the timetable above carefully, as not every weekday is served.
Timetable changes and winter timetable
Heligoland is a seasonal island, and most timetable changes follow the change of season. The catamarans end their season in early November: the Halunder Jet from FRS Helgoline then doesn't sail again until late March, and there is no winter connection from Hamburg or Brunsbüttel. The Cassen Eils catamarans also run only in season; if it ends earlier, the operator rebooks booked sailings onto the excursion ship.
In winter, only the MS Helgoland sails from Cuxhaven, and not every day of the week. A return trip on the same day is possible on Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays; on the other days the ship sails in one direction only or not at all, so anyone crossing then stays overnight on the island. Over Christmas and New Year it sails daily.
What to watch out for with the timetable
Two things matter more on this route than elsewhere. First, Heligoland is a day-trip destination for many visitors: on fine summer days the ships fill up early, and if you only book at the harbour you may find the ship sold out. Second, a sailing can be cancelled at short notice in a storm. All ships from Cuxhaven and Hamburg dock directly in the harbour; there is no transfer to Börte boats on these routes. The operator's timetable and your booking confirmation are always the definitive source.
FAQ Heligoland timetable
Frequently asked questions
Frequently asked questions about the Heligoland ferry timetable.
Where do I find out about timetable changes? +
The departures above are the operators' scheduled departures. If a sailing is cancelled or a ship is swapped, the operator informs passengers with a booking directly. So check your booking confirmation again on the day of travel. What changes with the change of season is explained below under Timetable changes and winter timetable.
Do ships sail to Heligoland in winter too? +
From Cuxhaven, yes: Cassen Eils' MS Helgoland excursion ship sails all year round and docks in the South Harbour, though in winter not every day of the week. The fast catamarans, on the other hand, are seasonal - the Halunder Jet from Hamburg and Cuxhaven runs from late March to early November.
How long does the crossing to Heligoland take? +
From Cuxhaven, the catamaran takes around 70 to 75 minutes, and the excursion ship about two and a half hours. From Hamburg, the Halunder Jet, with a stop in Cuxhaven, takes around three and a half hours.
How much time do you have on the island on a day trip? +
That depends on the return sailing. From Cuxhaven, the excursion ship sails out in the morning and back in the afternoon, giving you three to four hours on Heligoland. In winter, a day trip from Cuxhaven is only possible on Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays, and daily over Christmas and New Year. From Hamburg, you arrive around 12:30, with the return sailing around 16:30 or 17:00.
Which ferry operators run these connections? +
Cassen Eils and FRS Helgoline sail from Cuxhaven, FRS Helgoline runs the Halunder Jet from Hamburg and Brunsbüttel, and Adler & Eils sails from Büsum and Hooksiel. See the Heligoland Ferry Operators page for which ship serves which route.